In past years, many studies have been published concerning the influence of English, especially
of American English, on the German language. Many people complain about the
hotchpotch of English and German used by present-day youths. They blame the media for
the destruction of the German language. This even led to the founding of an association,
der Verein Deutsche Sprache, to protect the German language. However, few people seem
to be aware that German has made a sizeable contribution to the American English vocabulary
too, even though this is not as large as the contribution of English to the German language.
As will be shown in this paper, words denoting foods, drinks, amusements, skiing
activities, German inventions and parts of the education system were borrowed by the native
population. Borrowing from German started with the early colonial settlers in the 17th
century, settling in Pennsylvania and evolving the Pennsylvanian German which is not of
interest in this paper as it is completely different from the usage of German words of an
average American, and has continued to the present time.
This paper deals with Germanisms in American speech and is intended to give an
overview of the concept of borrowing. Firstly, the processes of borrowing with its examples
of distant and intimate borrowing are traced. Stanforth’s monograph Deutsche Einflüsse
auf den englischen Wortschatz in Geschichte und Gegenwart serves as the basis. Afterwards,
in accordance to Haugen, his categorisation of the loan material into importation,
substitution, partial-substitution and their subdivisions loan words, loan meanings, loan
coinages, loan blends and loan compounds are represented with examples. The following
paragraphs elaborate on the naturalization of the loan material. It is shown that the typographic
representation of words, the orthography, the pronunciation and the grammar can
give information on the state of naturalization. Furthermore, the loan material can change
its part of speech or meaning after having been borrowed. In the fourth main paragraph the
reasons for the large amount of Germanisms, such as the lack of American English equivalents
or the striving for profit and prestige, are explained in detail.
[...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Process of Borrowing and its Different Categories
3. The Naturalization of the Loan Material
4. Reasons for Germanisms in American Speech
5. Presentation and Evaluation of the Research Project
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
8. Appendix
8.1. Questionnaire
8.2. Spiegel Online article
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the influence of the German language on American English, specifically focusing on the concept of borrowing and the integration of German-derived words into the American vocabulary. The research explores how historical migration and cultural contact have facilitated the transfer of Germanisms and investigates the extent to which these terms are recognized and utilized by contemporary American speakers.
- Processes and categories of linguistic borrowing
- Methods of naturalization for loan material
- Historical and functional motivations for the adoption of Germanisms
- Empirical analysis of Germanisms in modern American speech
- Semantic shifts and degrees of integration of borrowed terms
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Naturalization of the Loan Material
As the distinction between loan and foreign words has not been successful, the OED, as Stanforth points out, makes a more pragmatic distinction. It differentiates between naturals, denizens, aliens and casuals. Casuals are not only indigenous words, but also include naturalized expressions such as rucksack. Denizens are “words fully naturalized as to use, but not as to form, inflection or pronunciation” (Stanforth 1996: 35), e.g. flak. Aliens, however, are “names of foreign objects, titles etc., which we require often to use, and for which we have no native equivalents, e.g. heldentenor” (Stanforth 1996: 35). Casuals are “foreign words of the same class, but not in habitual use, which for special and temporary purposes occur in books of foreign travel, letters of foreign correspondents, and the like”, e.g. berufverbot” (Stanforth 1996: 35).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the study regarding German influence on American English and describes the theoretical basis and the structure of the paper.
2. The Process of Borrowing and its Different Categories: Defines the linguistic concepts of borrowing and interference, distinguishing between distant and intimate borrowing processes.
3. The Naturalization of the Loan Material: Analyzes the levels of integration for loanwords based on typographic, orthographic, phonetic, and grammatical adaptations.
4. Reasons for Germanisms in American Speech: Explores the socio-historical reasons for borrowing, including settlement patterns, lexical gaps, and the influence of prestige or functional usage.
5. Presentation and Evaluation of the Research Project: Details the methodology and findings of an online survey conducted among 15 subjects regarding their familiarity with selected Germanisms.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings regarding the influx of German words and the varying levels of naturalization found in American speech.
Keywords
Germanisms, American English, linguistic borrowing, naturalization, loanwords, semantic shift, language contact, sociolinguistics, cultural history, immigration, dictionary, orthography, morphology, loan translation, survey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the presence and integration of German-derived words (Germanisms) within the American English language.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the mechanisms of linguistic borrowing, historical reasons for language contact between German immigrants and Americans, and the semantic/orthographic adaptation of German words.
What is the main research goal?
The goal is to provide an overview of borrowing concepts and evaluate, through a survey, how recognizable and widely used certain German terms are among contemporary Americans.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literature-based theoretical framework combined with an empirical online survey that assesses the familiarity and perception of specific Germanisms among academic respondents.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the categorization of loan material, naturalization processes (phonetics, grammar, spelling), socio-historical drivers like immigration, and a detailed analysis of a questionnaire.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Germanisms, linguistic borrowing, naturalization, loanwords, semantic shift, and American English.
How does the survey determine if a word is considered "German"?
The survey asks participants to identify whether words they perceive as standard American English might actually have German origins, highlighting that many words are mistaken for native English due to long-term usage.
What role does the "Hamburger" play in the author's analysis?
The hamburger serves as a primary case study for how a term originating from German geography became an American staple, illustrating both the process of linguistic naturalization and folk etymology.
- Citation du texte
- Karolin Büttner (Auteur), 2008, Germanisms in American Speech, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/115859
